Washington Walk Off On Oregon State, 5-4

In front of sold-out crowd at Husky Softball Stadium on Saturday night, junior Kimberlee Souza smashed a seventh-inning walk-off home run to propel Washington to a 5-4 victory over Oregon State.

Washington (38-13, 9-9 Pac-12) and OSU (25-24, 5-17 Pac-12) continue their series at 2 p.m. PT tomorrow, Sunday, May 3.

Freshman Taylor Van Zee and sophomore Ali Aguilar led the team with two hits and two RBI a piece. The Huskies recorded seven hits on the day by just four batters. Souza also recorded two hits and junior Jennie McNeill hit a big double in the bottom of the sixth before eventually scoring the tying run.

In a back-and-forth contest that saw four lead changes, the Huskies took an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first after senior Kylee Lahners drew a walk and Van Zee reached on a bunt-single. Aguilar then delivered a two-RBI single through the left-center gap to score the pair.

Oregon State went on to plate three runs off four hits in the top of the third to take a 3-2 lead. The Beavers loaded the bases before scoring their first run of the game on an illegal pitch. With runners at second and third, OSU was hit-by-pitch to load the bases again before roping a two-RBI single to take their first lead of the game.

Despite Aguilar recording her 23rd double of the season in the bottom half of the frame, the Huskies were unable to bring the tying run across and trailed 3-2 through three innings. Junior Hailey Bator entered the circle in the fourth, relieving Husky starter senior Kasey Stanchek. After a walk and an error put a pair on, Bator settled in, inducing a pair of ground outs and a pop up to end the inning.

Washington tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the fourth after Souza walked to start the inning and senior Kelli Suguro was hit-by-pitch. After a pair of strikeouts, Lahners then drew her 50th walk of the season before Van Zee also walked to score pinch runner freshman Kelly Burdick.

Oregon State regained command in the fifth, hitting a one-out single, stealing second and scoring off another RBI single.

Trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the sixth, McNeill hit a double over the head of the left fielder and one out later, Van Zee delivered a clutch RBI single to score the speedy McNeill from second to tie the game.

With the game locked at 4-4 in the bottom of the seventh, Souza smashed a 0-2 pitch into the right-field bleachers to end the game. It was her fourth home run of the season.

Bator (12-3) earned the win for the Huskies, tossing four innings, allowing four hits and one run.

Washington and Oregon State will play game two of the three-game series tomorrow (May 3) afternoon at 2 p.m.